Do They Hear What We Hear: Adaptations in Mammals for Hearing Underwater, Focusing on the

Bowhead Whale (Balaena mysticetus)‫‏‬

Spring A. Gaines, Hermann H. Bragulla, Daniel J. Hillmann

Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Abstract

The evolution of hearing and how this process occurs has

been researched and recorded by scientists for decades. In
mammals, different species have developed unique adaptations
to be able to capture sounds in their environment. This study
focuses on those mammals who live in an aquatic environment,
especially cetaceans, whales and dolphins. It is hypothesized
that odontocetes (toothed whales) and mysticetes (baleen
whales) use their mandibles to conduct sound, much like the
ear canal in a human. These mandibles are said to replace the
functionality of the ear canal. Through observations on the fetal
Bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) ear done in various media,
including gross anatomy, CT scanning and schematic drawings,
it has been found that not only is bone conduction through the
mandible possible, but other unique adaptations exist as well.

Introduction

Hearing is the process of how sound waves are picked up,

transduced and interpreted. This process is performed through
the ear, and it can be explained by dividing the ear into three
sections. In mammals, the outer ear focuses and directs sound
waves into the middle ear. In the middle ear, the energy of these
pressure waves is translated into mechanical vibrations of the
middle ear’s bone structure. The cochlea of the inner ear
propagates these mechanical signals as waves in fluid and
membranes, and finally transduces them to nerve impulses
which are transmitted to the brain. The inner ear is also
responsible for balance.
This middle ear structure is where sound amplification of
20x occurs (Strain, per. comm.). The middle ear is the portion of
the ear internal to the eardrum, and external to the vestibular
window.
The mammalian middle ear (see Fig. 1) contains three
ossicles, which couple vibration of the eardrum into waves in the
fluid and membranes of the inner ear. These three ossicles are
called the malleus, incus, and stapes. The hollow space of the
middle ear is called the tympanic cavity. In some mammals,
there is also a capsule of dense bone partly surrounding the
middle ear . This is known as the tympanic bulla (ICVGAN,2005).
Sound information can reach the mammalian inner ear
through two main routes. Land mammals hear sounds waves
that travel though air by vibration. The tympanic membrane
and the middle ear ossicles react to these vibrations, which have
travelled through the ear canal by helping to produce movement
of the vestibular window and changing pressure gradients in the
cochlear fluid (Reuter and Nummela, 1998). Fig. 12 A-D. Four cross-sectional images taken from spiral CT scans of the fetal Bowhead Whale (Specimen #90B4F). D = Dorsal direction; M =
Medial direction.

On the other hand, mammals that are subterrestial or live A: Rostral-most section through the head of the malleus. Note the fusion of the manubrium of the malleus with the lateral wall of the
tympanic bulla.
underwater rely on bone conducted hearing. This is due to the B: Section through the articulation of the incus with the head of the malleus. Note the two and one-half turns of the osseus cochlea and the
course of the cochlear part of the eighth cranial nerve (C. N. VIII) within the modiolus.
difference in environment. There is a smaller acoustical C: Section through the crus of the stapes. Note the base of the stapes inserted into the vestibular window.

impedance between the surrounding medium and the body, D: Caudal-most section through the “glove finger” portion of the tympanic membrane.

for earth and water are denser than air. This leads to skull
vibration (Mason, 2001). Bone conduction is also possible
in mammals with large ear ossicles (Reuter and Nummela, 1998).
Of interest to this study are mammals that live underwater,
particularly odontocetes (toothed whales) and mysticetes
(baleen whales). While these animals contain an external
ear canal, the end of it is plugged, for the pressure of
water is greater than that of air. To be able to propagate sound
and interpret its direction and distance, bone conduction must be
possible. A theory is that these animals use their mandibles to
replace the need for the ear canal. In dolphins, a fat pad has
been found in the mandible, and it is thought sound can travel
through this pad to the temporal bone (See Fig. 2). At this time,
it can then travel through the external acoustic meatus, which
leads to the tympanic cavity (Nummela et al., 2007). It is
unknown if this same method is used in mysticetes, This study
will focus on the Bowhead whale to either support or deny this
theory.
Materials and Methods
Results and Conclusion
Fetal samples were obtained from the North Slope Borough
in Barrow, Alaska. Through observation of these fetuses, it has
been seen that evidence leading to bone conduction exists.
There does not appear to be another path for sound. However, in
comparison with the mandibles of an odontocete, the mysticete
does have a significant difference (see Fig. 3). The fat pad does
not exist. Rather, mysticetes have a vascular rete surrounding
the mandibular nerve. This rete could be a drawback for sound
propagation.
Further research was performed to find if frequency could be
the answer. Mysticete calls are at a lower frequency than
odontocetes. Lower frequencies lead to greater penetration of
sound (Reidenburg and Laitman, 2007). Knowing this, the
density of the rete system is no longer a hindrance. This all leads
In Bowheads, the tympanic part is attached to the petrous
part by two bony columns (see Figs. 11a and 11b). Vibration of
the bulla would cause this entire complex to somehow move,
which would influence movement of the cochlear fluid.
Another fusion occurs in the middle ear. In an article by
Parks et al. (2007), the malleus is said to be attached to a bony
strut which is part of the lateral wall of the bulla. In their pictures,
one can see the articulation between this strut and the
manubrium of the malleus. However, the articulation is not found
in the malleus/strut complex of the Bowhead middle ear. We
believe that the entire malleus is fused to the lateral wall (see
Figs.11b and 12a), which would cause movement through the
ear ossicles if the bulla vibrates.
Our final observation compares the adult Bowhead to the
References Acknowledgements
International Committee on Veterinary Gross Anatomical Nomenclature (2005). The authors would like to thank Mrs. Cathryn Sparks, Monty
Nomina Anatomica Veterinaria Fifth Edition. The World Association of
Galley and Eric Brooks of the Gross Anatomy Lab for their
Veterinary Anatomists: Ithica. 190 pgs.
assistance. They would also like to thank Dr. George Strain for
Mason, MJ (2001). Middle ear structures in fossorial mammals: a comparison
with non-fossorial species. J. Zool., Lond., 255: 467-486. his communication and insights,
Nummela S, Thewissen JGM, Bajpai S, Hussain T, Kumar K (2007). Sound
transmission in archaic and modern whales: Anatomical adaptations for
underwater hearing. The Anatomical Record, 290: 716-733.
Parks, SE, Ketten, DR, O’Malley, JT, Arruda, J (2007). Anatomical Predictions
of This poster was made possible by NIH Grant Number P20
Hearing in the North Atlantic Right Whale. The Anatomical Record, RR16456 from the INBRE Program of the National Center for
290:734-744. Research Resources. Its contents are solely the responsibility of
Reese CS, Calvin JA, George JC, Tarpley RJ (2001). Estimation of Fetal Growth the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of
and Gestation in Bowhead Whales. Journal of American Statistical NIH.
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Five fetal Bowhead whales were chosen for observation:
one first trimester, two second trimester and two at full term.
Cross-sections of two fetal Bowhead whales were dissected to
display stages of ear development. They came from the first
trimester (specimen #92B8F) and one of the second trimester
(specimen #88KK1) fetuses. A schematic was drawn of the
cross-sectioned second trimester fetus. One full term fetus
(specimen #90B4F) was taken for computed tomography (CT)
scanning in a spiral CT format using human brain protocol.
All observations were photographed and recorded accordingly.
towards support for the hypothesis.
In addition, the structures within the ear of the Bowhead are
unique and deserve mention. One finding shows that the ear
canal is plugged at one end then opens into a funnel shape.
Within this funnel shape is a membrane dubbed the glove finger
(see Figs. 9 and 12d). It is believed that the glove finger acts as
a tympanic membrane. This membrane could help produce
vibration of the tympanic bulla. If this bulla vibrates, like we
believe, it would in turn vibrate two important structures.
fetal Bowhead. If one takes figures 4-10 in context, one would Reidenberg, JS, Laitman, JT (2007).Discovery of a Low Frequency Sound
see that the ear ossicles and petrous/tympanic complex are Source in Mysticeti (Baleen Whales):Anatomical Establishment of a Vocal
Fold Homolog. The Anatomical Record, 290:745–759.
almost fully developed at the fetal stage, but not ossified. This
information is crucial to current research being conducted in the Reuter T, Nummela, S (1998). Elephant hearing. Acoustical Society of America.
Beaufort and Chukchi seas of Alaska, which encompass the
migratory path of the Bowhead. Sonic testing and oil drilling are
being performed in these areas. Over time, this may degrade the
whale’s hearing and thus its ability to navigate the surrounding
environment.